Prosecution of African Elephant Ivory Smuggler
African elephant (Loxodonta africana) Cow elephant with exceptionally long tusks. Amboseli National Park Kenya. Dist. Sub-saharan Africa Image digitally enhanced.
On October 11, a British Columbia resident receieved a $9,000 fine for illegally importing over 30,000 pieces of African elephant ivory into Canada. He was also ordered to pay a further $9,000 to TRAFFIC – a division of WWF and the World Concervation Union – to support programs for the conservation of the African elephant. He also had to forfeit all of the ivory seized during the investigation, which wildlife officers have estimated to be worth over $100,000.
WWF-Canada staff were involved with the investigation by providing identification assistance and documentation on the conservation impact of the illegal trade in elephant ivory.
TRAFFIC, a joint program of WWF and The World Conservation Union, is a wildlife trade-monitoring program that works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. Endangered species, such as African elephants, are listed under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a legally binding, international agreement between governments that regulate the international trade in wildlife. TRAFFIC helps governments implement CITES.
WWF-Canada staff were involved with the investigation by providing identification assistance and documentation on the conservation impact of the illegal trade in elephant ivory.
TRAFFIC, a joint program of WWF and The World Conservation Union, is a wildlife trade-monitoring program that works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. Endangered species, such as African elephants, are listed under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a legally binding, international agreement between governments that regulate the international trade in wildlife. TRAFFIC helps governments implement CITES.